The chickenpox virus lives in the nose and throat and in the blisters on the skin. It is spread by direct contact with infected fluids from these areas. The virus can be spread for about days before a rash appears and up until the blisters are crusted over.
These symptoms may start weeks after the individual has been in contact with someone with the chickenpox. Most people do not need treatment for chickenpox. People at high risk and pregnant women can get varicella zoster immune globulin or antiviral medication. Before the chickenpox vaccine was introduced in , most people in the United States caught chickenpox as children.
Today, some vaccinated people can still get chickenpox, as well as some people who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised. Those vaccinated people who still get infected may develop milder symptoms. This is called breakthrough chickenpox. Chickenpox symptoms in infected adults who did not get the disease as children may be similar to symptoms in children but they could be more severe. Those who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised are especially at risk.
Some adults may not develop a rash. If they do develop a rash, the rash may not spread in the same way. However, if they do get a rash, it may leave deeper marks and scars. Adults are also more at risk for complications such as pneumonia. This is an extremely contagious virus that belongs to the family of herpesviruses that also include herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, Epstein-Barr virus, and others. There are more than viruses in the herpesvirus family.
They mostly affect the skin, mucus membranes, nerves, and tissues. Chickenpox is one of the most infectious diseases. People who have never had chickenpox, have never been vaccinated, or have a compromised immune system are at the highest risk of infection. Transmission happens through direct contact between people through coughing or sneezing, or by air. VZV can also cause another condition known as shingles or herpes zoster. The risks of contracting chickenpox and the development of complications are higher in a person with a weakened immune system.
A weakened immune system can result if a person:. There is no cure for chickenpox, but it generally resolves within a week or two without treatment.
A doctor may prescribe medication or give advice on how to reduce symptoms of itchiness and discomfort, and also on how to prevent transmission of the infection.
A doctor may prescribe antiviral medication during pregnancy, for adults who get an early diagnosis, for newborns, and for those with a weakened immune system. Acyclovir is one example of an antiviral medication that treats chickenpox. This works best if it is given within 24 hours of developing symptoms.
It reduces the severity of symptoms but does not cure the disease. There is no cure for chickenpox, but a vaccine is available for VZV. People should avoid close contact with people known to have chickenpox, avoid sharing objects with them, isolate any household members with chickenpox from others, and disinfect surfaces an infected person may have touched.
Among unvaccinated people who develop chickenpox, a few people may have more severe symptoms. Adults are more susceptible to complications than children, but even in adults, they are rare. Pregnant women, newborns, and infants up to 4 weeks old, as well as those with weakened immune systems, are more likely to experience complications. The best way to protect infants and children against chickenpox is to get them vaccinated.
The varicella-zoster virus also causes shingles. After chickenpox, the virus remains in the body dormant. People get shingles when VZV reactivates in their bodies after they have already had chickenpox.
People with shingles can spread VZV to people who have never had chickenpox or never received the chickenpox vaccine. This can happen through direct contact with fluid from shingles rash blisters or through breathing in virus particles that come from the blisters. If they get infected, they will develop chickenpox, not shingles.
It takes about 2 weeks from 10 to 21 days after exposure to a person with chickenpox or shingles for someone to develop chickenpox. If a vaccinated person gets the disease, they can still spread it to others.
For most people, getting chickenpox once provides immunity for life. It is possible to get chickenpox more than once, but this is not common.
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